BELGIUM
LIKELY TEAM (3-4-3): Courtois, Alderweirald, Kompany, Verthonghen, Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco, Mertens, Hazard, Lukaku
- Belgium are currently enjoying a 22 match unbeaten run, the longest in the nation's history
- Belgium have won all three of their group games now in consecutive World Cup appearances, the first nation to do since both Argentina and the Netherlands in 2010 and 2014
- Best World Cup finish: Fourth place, 1986
Their golden generation, their time, every man and his dog's dark horses for the trophy. Belgium, after all, have failed to live up to the hype in the past. In Brazil, in 2014, they lost meekly to Argentina in the quarter-finals and then there was that chastening defeat against Wales at the same stage at Euro 2016. They however are a lot stronger than two years ago, or four years ago in Brazil, definitely. They have a lot more experience as well. Four years ago it was their first major competition, all of them together. Euro 2016 was their second one. Knockout matches have a lot to do with experience. Hazard and co are a lot stronger than two years ago, or four years ago in Brazil. Eden Hazard stated “When you have a younger team, it is more complicated even if you have good players. Now I think most of us are between 25 and 30, so we have the same level of maturity, and I think this will make the difference in the knockout stage.”The talent pool is not in doubt, in particular going forward. Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens, who have scored seven of Belgium’s nine goals at these finals, are arguably as good as any front three at the World Cup. “Romelu, Dries or myself, I think we have reached our best level since we’ve started playing football,” said Hazard.
Roberto Martinez left most of his first-choice players on the bench for the England match so they could rest and avoid suspensions. Even with a weakened side, the Belgians still recorded a fine win that buoyed morale even further and has put some pressure on the squad’s habitual starters. The Red Devils are expected to play a dynamic, offensive game against the Japanese. Should the Asians adopt the same mindset, it should make for an open, entertaining game. Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel are once again expected to anchor the Belgian midfield and De Bruyne in particular will look to serve the dangerous front three. Wing backs Yannick Carrsasco and Thomas Meunier although quite adept at getting forward will look to recover quicker when the Red Devils lose possession as they will not want their back three exposed against the Japanese counter. Vincent Kompany is also expected to receive his first start of the competition.
A loss would be a devastating blow to Belgium’s so-called “golden generation” of players that was developed by the small country’s youth club system. Fans and media believe this is the best chance ever the team has at making a World Cup run. Although their temperament and attitude has been called into question there have been great strides made to galvanize the squad and improve morale under the watch of Roberto Martinez and Thierry Henry. He doesn’t speak their language. Any of them. But, says Roberto Martinez, that’s been the advantage of coaching the Belgians, to whom he speaks “the language of football”. Their talent is without doubt. Although when Belgium have played their strongest side they have not struggled to create chances but, even then, they have not looked like the cohesive unit they will need to be to go far in this tournament.They will be hoping to put all questions aside come Monday evening.
JAPAN
LIKELY TEAM (4-2-3-1): Kawashima, Sakai, Yoshida, Shoji, Nagatomo, Hasebe, Shibasaki, Haraguchi, Kagawa, Inui, Osako
- Japan have never ever won a knockout game at the World Cup
- Japan have failed to score in five of their last six World Cup games against European opponents (W1 D2 L3) with their last goals coming against Denmark in 2010 (3-1)
Akira Nishino, the Japan coach, also took the decision to rest players for their final group game, albeit in rather different circumstances. Unlike Belgium, Japan’s progress to the knockout stage was hanging in the balance after two matches and many of Nishino’s players were left baffled when they learned that half a dozen of the starting XI, including Makoto Hasebe, their captain, had been omitted. Nishino, 63, has done well even to get Japan into the knockout stages, having only stepped in when predecessor Vahid Halilhodzic was sacked in April. After a modest win over 10-man Colombia, draw with Senegal and defeat to Poland in the group stages, a win against Belgium would see him write his name into Japanese football folklore. Nishino, however, defended that slightly odd approach to the Poland game by highlighting the fact that on both previous occasions when Japan reached the last 16, in 2002 and 2010, the players were running on empty. “In those games our players were exhausted, they had nothing left, they had left everything in the group stage. This is our third time in the last 16 and we have been very tactical in our approach,” he said.“Now we can be more aggressive, we have the spirit and mentality, I think we can match Belgium mentally. The game is a huge challenge. Belgium are formidable. They are among the top three in the world, so we have to think hard about how we attack them. But we haven’t exhausted ourselves yet, so we can create a new opportunity.”
Japan used a 4-4-2 formation in their last group match against Poland and lost 1-0. Coach Akira Nishino is likely to revert to the 4-2-3-1 system he deployed in the win over Colombia and the draw with Senegal. Attacking midfielders Genki Haraguchi, Shinji Kagawa and Takashi Inui will have important roles to play. Inui is just at the back end of a pretty successful season in La Liga and has caught the eye with his performances this tournament. The 30 year old will complete a move to Real Betis at the end of the tournament. Premier League and Bundesliga followers all know what creator in chief Shinji Kagawa can do while the likes of record goalscorer and Premier League champion Shinji Okazaki can provide impetus and spark from the bench. The Japanese will look to attack down the flanks and their chances of success will hinge on how well they can supply Gaku Shibasaki and Yuya Osako. Southampton defender; Maya Yoshida will be on his best watch against Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku.
In 1991, Japanese football was at its lowest point. Their top flight was played by amateurs and the football association knew something needed to be done. The birth of the J League soon followed. Japan now had its own professional football league that one day would become the best in Asia. The dream was to have a successful, sustainable league, one to be proud of – to have a hundred professional clubs, and lastly, to win the World Cup by 2092. It’s all part of a 100-year vision. Although they are still way off this ambition, a victory against the Red Devils on Monday would be bigger than their wildest ever dreams and more than the football authorities in the 90's could ever wish for.
WHERE GAME WILL BE WON
Belgium have struggled so far in the tournament to control possession and dictate the tempo of the game something which was highlighted in the helter skelter win over Tunisia. It all seems a bit rushed from Roberto Martinez' side, a bit all or nothing. A more calm, measured approach will be required by the Belgians who will have to curb their directness against the Japanese who will fight for every turnover and look to pounce on the break. Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel will all be crucial to achieving numerical superiority in the middle third and look to find Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens darting in behind with their lateral movements.
PREDICTION
Romelu Lukaku to add to his tally in pursuit of the Golden Boot with Kevin De Bruyne providing a starring role in the Belgian midfield. Japan to cause the Red Devils problems from time to time but ultimately the class available to Roberto Martinez will prove too much for the Japanese.
Belgium 3 -1 Japan